Village rallying cry for final £20,000

Jun 19 2007 Jenny Wood

THE FINAL push is on to help a Perthshire village beat the clock to save its hall.

Villagers in Glenfarg have just 11 days to meet the financial target needed to safeguard their century-old village hall and kick-start a refurbishment project which would bring the community hub up to modern day standard.

Those who sounded the rallying call have warned that without redevelopment the hall, which is regularly used by about 30 community groups, would fall into disrepair and could face closure.

Last month the PA told how villagers had set themselves the challenge of raising £40,000 in 40 days to save their hall.

With 11 days to go, the community still has about £20,000 to go to meet their target.

But far from being daunted by the monetary mountain before them, the enthusiastic and committed campaigners are heartened by the response so far.

Jean Andrew, treasurer of the Glenfarg Public Hall Association, told the PA: “I think we are doing pretty well to get the figure down to this.

“We did a house to house collection and the response has been phenomenal.

“Everybody just kept putting their hand in their pocket. Every day cheques for £50 or £100 would arrive and we even got one for £250 from a villager.

“We really didn’t expect a response like that at all and must give a huge thanks to everyone who has dug deep to help us get the hall we dream of.”

The modest plans for the hall aim to bring the hub up to 21st century scratch. Despite being well used, the dated hall has excluded a proportion of the community due to its lack of modern-day amenities such as disabled access to the toilets.

The villagers’ plight to save their community hall has even captured hearts many miles away.

Fundraisers received financial backing from a man in Bristol and former Glenfarg resident who moved out of the village over 40 years ago who dipped into her savings to help support the cause.

Various local charities have pitched in to help Glenfarg retain its hall including the Mitchell, Thomson, Tay, Gannochy and Robertson Trusts.

Landfill firm SITA contributed more cash to the cause, nearby Binn Farm has given its backing and even the small local primary school gave a donation.

The hall has been central to several fundraising efforts with a quiz night bringing in much-needed cash and the local accordion and fiddle club and Glenfarg Ceilidh band each raised the roof with musical money makers.

And a huge boost to local efforts was news the Big Lottery Fund came on board with £176,000.

On a more sour note for fundraisers, Perth and Kinross Council, while ploughing £15,000 into the project, have demanded back a four-figure sum for a tiny pocket of land villagers must buy if the work is to go ahead.

And in another blow, an oversight by the architect for the project failed to take into account an electricity pole which will cost the committee over £12,000 to shift.

But villagers remain committed to make their dream of a fit-for-purpose hall a reality.

To help the community cross the final hurdle and reach their £20,000 target in the next 11 days, people can contribute to the appeal by ‘buying’ a brick in the new extension for £1 each, sponsor a toilet, window or door or donate £250 towards a new roof.

To donate to the appeal, log on to www.glenfarg.org and download the ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ sponsorship form on the Village Hall pages, or send a cheque made out to Glenfarg Public Hall Association and post to the Treasurer, Jean Andrew, Strathaven, Duncrievie, Perthshire, PH2 9PD.